Remand Centre
Paul and Holden continue their meeting.

PAUL: I want Brent to stay locked away for a very long time.
HOLDEN: How am I supposed to help with that?
PAUL: By going to the police, and telling them about the other illegal activities that you and your little gang got up to.
HOLDEN: That'll just get me in more trouble.
PAUL: Not if you paint Brent as the ringleader.
HOLDEN: I'm not a snitch.
PAUL: See, I would've thought that you'd want to get your own back on Brent, considering he was the one that dobbed you in to the police in the first place... Don't expect you to do it for free, though. I could make it worth your while.
HOLDEN: How worth it?
PAUL: Very. Just make sure you make it as bad as possible, and blame everything on Brent.

Holden asks why Paul's doing this to his granddaughter's boyfriend. Getting up to leave, Paul simply replies that it's what has to happen; it's all Holden needs to know.

Rebecchi Law
Melanie tells Toadie that Mr Carmello wants to change his Monday appointment from 11am to 10am. Toadie says he can make this work. Melanie asks why there's no meeting with Angela Lane pencilled in; Toadie replies that he hasn't organised one yet.

MELANIE: Oh, I thought you were gonna tell her that you weren't into her?
TOADIE: Yeah, I will. Soon.
MELANIE: When, soon?
TOADIE: Do I detect a hint of jealousy?
MELANIE: This is not about me. Even though we don't like Angela, she does deserve the truth. It's embarrassing that she's got the situation so wrong.
TOADIE: Well, that's very noble of you (!) I'll get it done. I promise.
MELANIE: Good. Once that's done, you and I can concentrate on doing what we do best.

Easily persuaded by this, Toadie decides to arrange the meeting with Angela straight away!

The Waterhole
Toadie is at a table, when Mackenzie comes in. She's been reading through the Carmello case files and wants to pick Toadie's brain on a few aspects, 'just for professional development'. Toadie asks if they can do it later, as he's got a meeting now.

TOADIE: It's Angela Lane.
MACKENZIE: Okay. Right. Here, in front of everyone. Wow.
TOADIE: Sorry?

But at that moment, Angela herself breezes in. Mackenzie looks a little nauseous as Angela flirts with Toadie, and says she'll give the two of them some space.

ANGELA: Mackenzie, wait. I've been meaning to catch up with you, too.
MACKENZIE: Why?
ANGELA: I want you to know how much I regret the way I've behaved in the past. I was narrow-minded and ignorant.
MACKENZIE: Well, yes.
ANGELA: But now I've really opened my eyes, thanks to my lesbian daughter Olivia!
TOADIE: ...
MACKENZIE: Is that how you introduce her at gatherings? (!)
ANGELA: I just meant that she and her new girlfriend have really helped me to embrace the queer world. I understand now that you're living as your true self. And I think you're *so* brave.

Mackenzie looks both unimpressed and freaked out as Angela strokes her hair! But she forces a smile.

MACKENZIE: Thank you, for making an effort to change.
ANGELA: Oh, I have changed. Ask Toadie. Even he likes the new me.

Toadie is lost for words.

No 22
Paul comes in and finds Ned and Harlow in the kitchen. Harlow's in a good mood, and offers to take Paul out for coffee - her treat. He says he'd love to.

HARLOW: I really want to keep repairing things with us, Grandad. Especially now that Brent's about to be released.

Paul forces a smile at this prospect.

The Waterhole
Susan and Karl come in, talking about Toadie's supposed relationship with Angela. Spotting Toadie at a table, Susan decides they should invite him for dinner in order to get him to open up about his new romance, and then react positively.

KARL: Are you capable of being positive about Angela?
SUSAN: I'll have to fake it.

The Kennedys go over and invite Toadie to dinner. He agrees, but has to rush off - there's a problem with Brent's case, he explains.

As Toadie leaves, Angela emerges from the bathroom. Susan asks after her daughter Lacy; Angela reports that she's seeing a counsellor and is finishing Year 12 online. Angela explains she was here to meet Toadie, but that he got a call and had to rush off.

ANGELA: I was hoping to talk to him properly, but I guess I'll just keep trying.
KARL: Well, we've got dibs on him for dinner this evening!
ANGELA: Oh, are you having dinner together? That's lovely.
KARL (regretting the words as they leave his mouth): ... Would you like to join?
SUSAN: (grimaces)
ANGELA: Really?! I would love to! Thank you so much!

Angela promises to text Susan for the details, and rushes off. Susan turns on Karl.

KARL: It just slipped out! I couldn't take it back!
SUSAN: We'll have to cancel now! Tell them we've got some sort of explosive gastro, or the house got swallowed by a sinkhole.
KARL: Come on, don't be a coward! Maybe she's exactly what Toadie needs. It'll encourage him to open up to us about his relationship.

Susan objects, but Karl reminds her they agreed to be supportive. She reluctantly agrees, but still looks angry!

Lassiter's Complex
As Harlow and Paul walk towards the courtyard, and seem to be getting on much better - but Harlow's keen to talk about her relationship with Brent.

HARLOW: If things go well, and he's released after the hearing, we are gonna keep seeing each other.
PAUL: Yeah, I assumed as much.
HARLOW: I really hope that you can be supportive.
PAUL: Harlow, you don't think that we should put off this conversation till we know for sure?
HARLOW: So you won't support us?
PAUL: No, that's not what I said.
HARLOW: Well, then, let's discuss it, please, because I'm sick of fighting with you. I just want things to go back to how they were.
PAUL: So do I.

At this point, Toadie appears. He tells them he's just spoken with the Office of Public Prosecutions, and they're about to lay a whole stack of new charges against Brent. Harlow is horrified, and Paul feigns surprise.

TOADIE: Sounds like Holden is throwing him under the bus.

Remand Centre
Toadie and Harlow are filling Brent in on the latest developments on his case. Holden is apparently claiming Brent was the ringleader of the gang, and has attested to his involvement in a string of low-level offences, including burglary, theft and trespass. Toadie thinks it's going to be enough for the judge to give Brent a prison sentence, unless they can prove Brent wasn't involved.

BRENT: You know I can't. Harlow, it was fast money, and I needed it to survive. All I did was hang out with the group; none of it was my idea.
HARLOW: I know. I believe you.

Toadie says all they can do is wait till the new charges are laid, and take it from there. Brent is convinced he's now 'screwed', but Harlow says she's not giving up - they'll beat this.

Rebecchi Law
Hendrix is telling Mackenzie about the Kennedys having invited Angela for dinner with Toadie. Mackenzie's appalled.

HENDRIX: We're the teenagers, we should be having inappropriate relationships - not them.
MACKENZIE: We have more self-control, though.
HENDRIX: Well, maybe we shouldn't.
MACKENZIE: ...
HENDRIX: No, no, I know - we can't dump that on Harlow at the moment. But maybe Angela really is trying to change. She did apologise.
MACKENZIE: Yeah. It was the cringiest moment of my life. As if a two-second convo about how brave I am makes up for the way that she's treated me in the past.
HENDRIX: Yeah, not cool.

Hendrix thinks Mackenzie should tell Toadie how she feels, but she doesn't want to cause him problems for him - she'll just have to suck it up. She asks Hendrix not to talk to Toadie or Angela about it, either. Hendrix tells her not to worry; he's bailing on the dinner.

Melanie has come in and overheard the end of this, and is concerned to learn that the Kennedys have invited Toadie and Angela to dinner, but does her best to disguise this.

No 22
Paul comes downstairs and finds Harlow upset following her visit with Brent.

HARLOW: He's so scared. He's trying not to show it, but I can tell.
PAUL: It must be so hard for you, too.
HARLOW: I just feel so stupid for believing things could work out.
PAUL: Yeah, well, sometimes the universe just isn't on our side, is it?
HARLOW: I had everything planned out. But... now what? I'm just gonna spend my life visiting prisons? My dad, and my boyfriend, both behind bars. What kind of future is that?

Harlow bursts into tears, and Paul hugs her, looking conflicted.

No 28
Toadie is chatting to Susan about Brent's case while she is cooking dinner. Hendrix is on the sofa, and Toadie asks him if he's staying for dinner, but he says he's meeting Mackenzie.

TOADIE: Who's the fourth place for, then?
KARL: For Angela. Didn't she tell you?
TOADIE: ... Angela Lane?
SUSAN: Obviously.
TOADIE: What? How did she manage to worm herself into an invite?
KARL: Well, she didn't. We invited her.
SUSAN: Well, *Karl* invited her.
KARL: Accidentally, sort of.
TOADIE: Why would you do that?! You don't like her. And that's putting it mildly!
SUSAN: Toadie - we *know*, okay? And yes, we have had our differences in the past, but we support you, no matter what.
HENDRIX: Which is big of them, since the woman that you're dating is pretty much the worst.
TOADIE: ... You think I'm dating Angela Lane?!
SUSAN: ... Aren't you?
TOADIE: God, no!!
KARL: But you spend so much time with her.
TOADIE: Because I'm representing her daughter!

Hendrix looks positively gleeful as Karl and Susan realise their mistake. Toadie's annoyed; Angela's now going to think this dinner is a matchmaking attempt, and he blames Karl and his obsession with Toadie's love-life. But Susan admits she's to blame, too.

TOADIE: How could you possibly think that I would be romantically interested in *that* woman?

But before they can discuss it further, Angela knocks at the door!

HENDRIX (amused): I'll get it. And then I'm gonna leave to let you guys clean up the mess. (opens the door) Oh, Angela - come on in!

Hendrix relishes everyone's discomfort as Angela comes in and greets them all, then he cheekily waves them all goodbye, and heads out. Angela remarks on how nice the food smells, and says she's 'ravenous'. Susan and Toadie both look a bit nauseous.

The Flamingo Bar
Melanie's having a drink at a table when Hendrix comes in. She asks him if the Kennedys' dinner is over, but he says it was just kicking into gear when he left. Melanie downs her drink, and rushes off, while Hendrix meets Mackenzie who is at the bar.

MACKENZIE: Please tell me everything with Angela is going terribly.
HENDRIX: How's this for an early birthday present? Toadie and Angela aren't dating - they never were.

Mackenzie's shocked when Hendrix explains the misunderstanding, saying she was sure he was secretly dating someone. Hendrix thinks they should celebrate with some cocktails, but Mackenzie is worried about Harlow, and her agreement with Hendrix that they wouldn't date until they'd told her. However, she decides that one drink won't hurt, especially as it's her birthday tomorrow.

MACKENZIE: If Angela really is out of our lives, that is definitely something to celebrate.
HENDRIX: Absolutely. I wonder if their dinner's turned into a war zone yet.

No 28
Susan is quietly explaining to Toadie about how the mix-up happened; Mackenzie thought Toadie was secretly seeing someone, and overheard him talking to Angela about secrets. Then when Susan bumped into Angela, she thought she'd confirmed it. But Toadie says Susan's now given Angela the idea that he's interested in her, which explains why she turned up at his house trying to seduce him.

Karl returns to the room with Angela, having been giving her a tour of the house, including the 'studio-grade' soundproofing in (presumably) his music room.

KARL: I came to the realisation that you shouldn't compromise quality for the sake of a dollar.

Angela says it's a lovely home, and thanks them again for the dinner invite. She says it's great having the chance for them all to get closer, and pats Toadie on the bum! Angela goes to sit at the table.

TOADIE (whispering to Susan): This has gone on long enough.
SUSAN: I think it would be better coming from you. She already hates me enough.
TOADIE: No! She's my client. And this is your fault.

No 30
Ned has dropped round to visit Harlow, and they're on the sofa when Mackenzie comes in.

MACKENZIE: I heard about Brent. I'm so sorry.

Harlow's beating herself up for not having seen Holden's testimony coming, saying it was obvious he'd try to save himself. Ned reminds Harlow that it isn't the end of the world for Brent, even if he does go to prison. Mackenzie agrees, saying Brent will get a couple of years at most.

NED: And then he can turn his life around. I was dodgy as hell when I was his age, and I managed to get my act together.
HARLOW: He's had it much tougher than you. How is anyone meant to believe in turning their life around when they can't even catch a break?

No 28
Angela is thanking the Kennedys for a delicious meal.

TOADIE: Yeah, Susan. You're the best (!)

Susan continues to drop hints to the effect that Toadie should tell Angela the truth, and Angela asks if something is going on. At that moment, Melanie barges in.

KARL: Is something wrong?
MELANIE: Yes! This! All of this!
TOADIE: Okay, let's talk about it later, hey?
MELANIE: No, because you clearly don't have the guts to be honest, so I'm gonna do it for you. Angela, Toadie's not interested in you. He never has been. He never will be.
ANGELA: Who do you think you are?! (to Toadie) Can you please tell your assistant to back off?
TOADIE: Uh... thing is, she's right. I'm not interested in you in that way. Sorry.
ANGELA: Oh, my goodness. (to Susan) Then why would you make me think otherwise?
SUSAN: It was a big misunderstanding.
TOADIE: Sorry.
ANGELA: You know what? I take back what I said about the meal. It tasted as bad as it smelled!
KARL: Excuse me?
SUSAN: It couldn't smell worse than your cheap perfume!
ANGELA: I beg your pardon? 'Wicked' is not cheap!
KARL: Hmm. It is a little bit pungent. Sort of reminiscent of a horse stable.
MELANIE: Yes, it is. And it's one of the many reasons why you are not the woman that Toadie is interested in.
TOADIE: Melanie...
KARL: Hang on. Toadie *is* involved with someone?
MELANIE (flustered): I... couldn't possibly say.
KARL: You know who it is?
TOADIE: Melanie. I'm secretly dating Melanie. (to Angela) Sorry.
MELANIE: Surprise!

Everyone looks confused.

The Waterhole
The next day, Toadie and Melanie are having coffee at the pub. They're talking about her dramatic entrance at dinner last night.

MELANIE: I know I said I wasn't jealous and that this is just a fling. But maybe I've realised that I'm feeling a bit more.
TOADIE: Alright...
MELANIE: When I thought of you having a real dinner with that woman, I didn't like it. I guess I want you all to myself.

Mackenzie comes in with Karl and Susan, and Toadie and Melanie simultaneously wish Mackenzie a happy birthday.

MACKENZIE: Talking in unison already! Your relationship must be getting serious.
TOADIE and MELANIE: I wouldn't say that.
MACKENZIE: Well, whatever it is, I'm happy for you.
SUSAN: I bet you're mostly happy that he's not dating Angela Lane.

Toadie explains to them all the need to keep the relationship with Melanie under wraps; his client Mr Carmello has made it clear that, given his legal situation, he needs his lawyer to be above reproach. This includes adhering to strict HR policies.

MACKENZIE: So workplace romances are off the table
MELANIE: Whereas ours has definitely been *on* the table. And under the table, sometimes. And then in the storeroom...
MACKENZIE: Yeah, I didn't need to know that.

So Toadie tells the Kennedys to keep their knowledge of the relationship quiet, but Karl points out that Angela now knows. They all hope she'll be so embarrassed that she'll keep quiet too. But Toadie tells all of them to keep their nose out of his love life from now on.

MACKENZIE: Sure thing.
SUSAN: Of course, yes.
KARL: I don't see what's wrong with taking a bit of interest -
TOADIE: Karl!
KARL: Okay, good. Agreed.

Remand Centre
Ned is visiting Brent. Brent's worried about Harlow; he could tell she was a mess deep down when she visited yesterday. Ned admits Harlow's worried about Brent; that's why he came to visit.

NED: Mate, I wanted you to know you've got people on the outside thinking of you.
BRENT: Thanks (...) I hate what I'm putting Harlow through at the moment.
NED: I know, it's alright. You just focus on your future, and we'll look after Harlow. Promise.
BRENT: Okay. Thanks for coming, mate. Seriously, I appreciate it.
NED: We're behind you, alright? Look after yourself.

Ned goes to leave. But on his way out, he notices Paul lingering by the entrance. Holden appears, and Ned watches as Paul and Holden shake hands, and engage in a serious-looking conversation...

Coming up on Neighbours
- Sheila 2 says, 'That moment, whatever it was, won't happen again'
- Ned and Sheila 2 looking at each other awkwardly
- Harlow tells Brent she's not going anywhere, no matter what
- Terese demands Paul explain what's going on
- Later, she tells Paul that ruining a young boy's life like this is unforgivable
- Ned tells Paul, 'When Brent's sentencing comes in, that's on you'